NEWS ROUNDUP

California Logging Drops Sharply Logging in California has decreased more than 60 percent over the last 15 years, even as the fast-growing state consumes more imported timber, state records show. The number of board feet harvested last year was 1.66 billion, down from 4.67 billion in 1988. Logging has declined particularly on California public lands because of environmental concerns, including protection of endangered species.... U.S. anti-logging activist seeks refugee status in Canada to avoid extradition Tre Arrow, one of the FBIs most wanted fugitives for his alleged role in the 2001 firebombing of logging and cement trucks in Oregon, launched an appeal Wednesday to remain in Canada as a refugee and avoid extradition, Canadian officials said. Obtaining refugee status would prevent authorities from extraditing Tre Arrow to the United States. The refugee appeal hearing was held behind closed doors, said government lawyer Jim Murray.... Tribes seek federal lands access to keep threats off reservations California Indian leaders told lawmakers Wednesday that they want the ability to cut trees, shore up hillsides and undertake other projects on nearby federal lands in order to keep disasters like wildfires and mudslides off their reservations. Legislation introduced in the wake of last fall's devastating Southern California wildfires, which burned parts of 11 Indian reservations, would allow tribes nationwide to do that. The Tribal Forest Protection Act, which has bipartisan support in the House and the Senate, would let tribes apply to the federal government for contracts to work on U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management property near their reservations.... Column: The all-terrain vehicle industry's advertising too often promotes unethical and environmentally harmful use of its products Today, given the revelations in this report on all-terrain vehicle advertising, it appears that we need to once again "take 'em to the woodshed." Some of the paid messages in ATV advertising today are worse than those old Range Rover ads. Adding insult to injury, many of the scenes promoting joyous destruction carry the Tread Lightly! logo. "TL," born in the U.S. Forest Service, was designed to reduce damage to wild America — damage primarily caused by unethical and destructive use of off-road vehicles of all types....Go here(pdf) to view the Isaac Walton League report.... Stephens' kangaroo rat could be removed from endangered species list The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed Wednesday to review whether the Stephens' kangaroo rat, a bane of farmers in parts of Southern California, should remain on the endangered species list. The Riverside County Farm Bureau petitioned the agency for the removal of the rat, a medium-sized, broad-faced burrow dweller that lives primarily in western Riverside County and parts of San Diego and San Bernardino counties. The rat's habitat can be damaged by many agricultural uses, including overgrazing.... Water districts sue over federal deal Central Valley water districts Tuesday sued the federal government for $500 million over complaints that the government broke promises to deliver water from New Melones Reservoir. By coming to the little-known but deep-pocketed U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the water districts and their San Joaquin County allies hope for a financial solution to a problem that has vexed them for more than a decade. The city of Stockton, San Joaquin County, the Stockton East Water District and Central San Joaquin Water Conservation District all contend the federal Bureau of Reclamation was obliged to deliver certain amounts of New Melones water. The local agencies estimate they spent $65 million building tunnels and aqueducts in anticipation of the reservoir water.... Walden issues Earth Day message on forest health The causes of these fires aren't complicated. A century of fire suppression coupled with a near abandonment of responsible thinning practices in our forests has resulted in unnatural catastrophic fires in the West and across much of the United States. The build-up of hazardous fuels has produced fires that ignite faster, burn hotter and spread more quickly than anything we've ever seen. And more often than not, when federal land managers attempt to thin overstocked forests, their efforts are met with legal appeals and injunctions by those who oppose any and all human activity on public lands, no matter how well intentioned.... Sportsmen Join Kerry Campaign Effort to Make Conservation a National Priority As a lifelong sportsmen, John Kerry has long known the importance of clean water, abundant habit and sound wildlife management for America's hunters and anglers. Today in Louisiana, John Kerry talked about the importance of conservation to America's sportsmen and announced the formation of Sportsmen for Kerry, a new effort by hunters and fishermen across America to join Kerry in fighting for rich habitats and abundant wildlife.... Anti-Migrant Slate Rejected by Sierra Club A bitter battle that exposed deep divisions over the direction of America's conservation movement reached culmination with the announcement Wednesday that Sierra Club members had overwhelmingly rejected a campaign by immigration control advocates to control the venerable environmental group. In what was termed the largest voter turnout in the Sierra Club's 112-year history, more than 22% of the group's 757,000 members cast ballots to select its governing board. The votes, which were submitted by members in March and April, were tallied Wednesday. The members elected a slate backed by the club's leaders and which received more than 110,000 votes apiece....